Container



April 21, 1936. DRIVER 2,037,770

CONTAINER Filed May 14, 1955 I IWENTQR. JOH N M. D R/ vs R Patented Apr." 2 1 1936 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers generally, more particularly to a container or bag provided with a simple and inexpensive means whereby either or both ends of said container or bag may be folded into a closed position.

An object of the invention is to provide a container whose walls are constructed of a flexible, foldable material such as paper, "cellophane", g'lassine or the like, having either its open top or bottom ends adapted to be closed by folding the bagwalls inwardly, one over the other, onto a preformed guide, which is thereafter foldable with the material of the bag to form a substantially rigid and relatively fiat top or bottom.

A further object of the invention is .to provide a container, each of the closed ends of which are composed of a plurality of inwardly folded flaps arranged in overlapping relation and folded upon a separate foldable member within the ba whereby one-of said'flaps, when unfolded, may be arranged in an upright position and carry printed indicia or advertising matter to assist in the purveyance of the commodity contained within the bag, and said one flap or both flaps, when unfolded, being?" provided with means through which a supporting member may be passed to hold the bag in a suspended position.

Other objects and advantages are to provide a container that will be superior in point of Simpiicity, inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness of operation, and facility and convenience in useand general 'efliciency.

In this specification and the annexed drawing', the invention is illustrated in the form considered'to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form,

, because it may be embodied in other forms; and

it is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied. f In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the former member.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper open end of the bag with a portion thereof partially folded on the former member. 1

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper end of ,a bag illustrating two of the flaps in upright position to receive the supporting member therethr ush.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a bag closed in accordance with my invention illustrating the comma John M. Driver, ZSan'Francis Application May 14,1935, Serial no. zines f1 5, Claims. (c1. 22:;-'-6z);

method of applying a strip holding. the same closed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofan end of a bag in partially folded position, and partly broken away to show the placement of my former mem- .ber therein.

' In the selected embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, I have provided a container or bag comprising a body portion l and a closed bottom. The container or bag may be formed of any of the conventional and foldable materials out of which it is the usual practice to form bags or containers, and the bottom of the said bag may be closed either in any of the customary ways now in usage in the bag making industry,

be hereinafter set forth; and in accordance with the teachings of my invention.

of adhesive tape for The invention is particularly applicable to bags of the general character shown in Fig. 3, which when filled with a suitable material, usually have their open tops closed by inwardly folding the bag top walls as illustrated in the various figures of the drawing. The bag top or the bag bottom is closed by inwardly folding the oppositely disposed wall portions 3 and 4, one over the other, whereby oppositely projecting flaps 5 and 6 are provided. A suitable adhesive or other securing means may be applied to the engaging surface of the wall portions 3 and 4, whereby these portions are secured together when folded during the first step of the closing operation. It is the customary practice to close the bags by hand methods, and a great deal of skill is required .in folding bags which contain a commodity which is of a slippery bulky nature, such, for instance,

as coffee, beans, rice and the like.

In order to facilitate the closing of either end of each of the pointed ends of 'said member may be placed into an upright position and will conform to and be sealed within the oppositely projecting flaps 5 and 6 heretofore referred to.

The cardboard stiffener member which I place on top of the contents of the bag, preliminarily to closing the end of the bag, functions as a guide or I form which materially assists the operator in closing the end of the bag. with my stiffener the operation of closing the end of the bag may be performed either by manual methods or the bag end may be closed through the instrument'ality of automatic machinery.

With my member I in position, the flrst operation is to bring the oppositely disposed wall portions 3 and 4 into overlapping relation, thereby leaving the oppositely projecting flaps 5 and 6 upstanding around the triangular ends 8 and 9 of the member 1. Thereafter the flaps 5 and 6 and the enclosed ends 8 and 9 are brought down into a flattened position on top of the overlapping por tions 3 and 4, and secured thereto, either by means of adhesive or by means of a sticker pasted over the tops of the folded-down flap, or by means of an adhesive tape which extends over the folded-down flaps and is secured on opposite sides of the bag walls.

To open a container or bag of the type herein disclosed, it is only necessary to break the adhesive agent which unites the various flapsand folds together, by substantially reversing the process or steps followed in bringing the end of the bag into the closed position.

Where a bag made entirely or partly of "cellophane" would have one or both ends thereof closed, in the manner which I have described, I intend to utilize the transparency of 'the cellophane" by placing printed matter on one or both sides of the'member I at the ends thereof, whereby said printed matter will be visible through the cellophane. My particular type of closure for the ends of the bag permits all of the printed or advertising matter referring to the contents of the bag to be placed on the member I and does away with the necessity of printing on the cellophane out of which the bag may be formed. Of course, if the bag is made of non-transparent material, or other material other than:cellophane, then the bags may be printed or left plain in accordance with the whims of the user.

Particularly, however, with the use of cellophane bags, my system of closing the ends of the bags and placing the printed matter on the member which is an essential part of the closed end of the bag, permits said bags to be developed into certain standardized sizes, and the use thereof for containing any number of varied commodities. Where the cellophane bag contains printed matter referring to the contents thereof,

- then it is only possible to use that bag for one particular commodity. Thus my invention will permit a more general use of cellophane for bag purposes in that the manufacturer by reason name of the material contained within the bag. I have also provided a perforation l through each of the flaps and 5 adjacent the apex there of to facilitate the mounting of said flaps on a rod or bar, and for thereby holding the same in a suspended or pendant position. The stiflener member in the end of the bag likewise assists in holding the bag in a position of set form, whereby the bag may be suspended in a hanging position by the supporting member extending through only one of the upstanding flaps.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bag made of flexible, foldable material having closure flaps folded in overlapping relation and secured together to seal the top of the bag,- said bag having a member formed of relatively stiff material arranged transversely thereon, provided with foldable opposite pointed ends thereon which extend within the closure flaps to facilitate the movement of said closure flaps into overlapping relation.

2. In combination a bag made of flexible, foldable material and a relatively stiff member adapted to be placed in said bag on top of the contents thereof, to assist in forming the closure for the top of said bag, said member having pointed projecting tabs on opposite ends thereof which parallel opposite sides. of the bag, between which the remaining opposite sides of the bag are adapted to be folded preliminarily to the final operation of folding down the first-mentioned sides of the bag and the tabs.

3. A bag made of flexible, foldable material having closure flaps foldedin overlapping relation and secured together to seal the top of the bag, said bag having a cross member formed of relatively stiff material thereon provided with upstanding pointed tabs on opposite ends thereof which extend within and are foldable with opposite closure flaps, said member and tabs facilitating the movement of all the closure flaps into overlapping relation.

4. A bag made of flexible, foldable material having closure flaps folded in overlapping relation and secured together to seal the top of the bag, said bag having a member formed of relatively stiff material arranged transversely thereon, provided with foldable opposite pointed ends thereon which extend within the closure flaps to facilitate the movement of said closure flaps into overlapping relation; and each of the outermost closure flaps and pointed ends having aligned perforations therethrough for supporting the bag in a suspended position.

. 5. A bag made of flexible, foldable material having closure flaps folded in overlapping relation and secured together to seal the top of the bag, said baghaving a cross member thereon provided with upstanding tabs on opposite closure flaps, said member and tabs facilitating the movement of all "the closure flaps into overlapping relation and each of the outermost closure flaps and tabs having aligned perforations therethrough for supporting the bag in a suspended position.

JOHN M. DRIVER. 

